Outdoors: Squirrel hunting opens shooting seasons

Al HaydenThe Register-Mail

Saturday

Aug 4, 2018 at 5:36 PMAug 4, 2018 at 5:36 PM

The outdoor temperatures and weather have been near perfect the past few days for those of us that like the outdoors. I found it hard to come indoors long enough to write an article because I’d much rather be outside.

The outdoor temperatures got hot again Saturday and it sounds like it’ll be hot again today.

I was talking to Don Owen the other day and he mentioned how the oak trees seemed to be really loaded with acorns this year. After he said that I took a walk through the timber and affirmed his statement. I also noted that the walnut and hickory trees have a good production of mast this year, as well.

This is good news for many animals and birds that rely on nuts as a food source during the winter months after crop fields are harvested. Even when crop fields are still standing deer will turn their feeding preference to acorns as oaks drop them to the forest floor.

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The 2018 Illinois squirrel hunting season opened statewide Aug. 1. Hunting hours are a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset with a daily limit of five.

Squirrel hunting is the first of the fall hunting seasons to open in Illinois. The cooler temperatures we had allowed for an enjoyable opening day. Many years the temperatures are hot and muggy on opening day of squirrel season.

A lightweight long-sleeved shirt will keep the morning chill away and help keep mosquitoes off you. It is also smart to spray down with some insect spray to not only keep mosquitoes from annoying you but also to discourage ticks from finding their way to your body. There seems to be an awful lot of ticks this year and since most squirrel hunters sit on the ground against a tree you become an easy target for them.

Early season squirrels spend a good deal of time in the trees because that’s where most of the nuts are now. Later in the season as nuts fall to the ground they’ll work the ground quite a bit. A squirrel call works well anytime during season but is extra helpful early in the season. Squirrel calls mimic a scolding squirrel and will draw curious squirrels to see what the commotion is all about.

Squirrel hunting is a good intro to hunting for young hunters since most hunting is done by sitting at the base of tree they can sit beside you.

There are several public hunting areas like Spoon River State Forest near Williamsfield that offer squirrel hunting. For a complete listing go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website: www.dnr.illinois.gov. While you’re there print yourself out a free windshield card.

Illinois public hunting areas require you to have a free windshield card to hunt. These are not available at site offices so print it out now. You’ll be required to fill out a harvest report at the end of the year even if you don’t get anything or you won’t be able to get a windshield card next year.